The Viola Voice

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. Why not couple some Shakespearean quotes to quell your stomachache chock full of all those saccharine sayings and candy hearts? The Bard is the best at comparing love with madness, and here are some excellent examples: 

Cupid is a knavsh lad, thus to make females mad, a midsummer night’s dream – act 3, scene 3  

I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster, much ado about nothing – act 2, scene 3  

Is this the generation of love? Hot blood, hot thoughts and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers. Is love a generation of vipers?, troilus and cressida – act 3, scene 1  

I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me, much ado about nothing – act 1, scene 1  

For all those lovesick folk out there, revel in this interesting fact I found:

 “The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine’s Day.”

While interning at The Viola Project, I’m also beginning my student teaching at a High School in the Chicagoland area. My awesome cooperating teacher reminded me of a book I had in my collection by a man named Michael Rohd. He wrote the book “Theatre for Community, Conflict and Dialogue” and has this amazing Theatre Company in Portland called Sojourn Theatre. I had the opportunity to witness his keynote speech at the Illinois Theatre Association conference this year, and was wowed. He mentioned this project he had done in the Summer of 2007, and I was delighted to find a YouTube video. Based loosely on a Chinese fairytale, Sojourn theatre uses all parts of a Subaru dealership in the tale of Lucy, who is given riches by the gods to reward and test her goodness. In this modern adaptation, Lucy is rewarded a Subaru dealership. What happens to Lucy? Find out in this video and let me know what you think! 

Watch ‘Good’ by Sojourn Theatre and Michael Rohd! 

Check out the Sojourn Theatre Website! 

Buy his book on Amazon! 

Amelia

A few days ago I came across this letter to the editor in the Tri City Herald from Washington State:

Men presidents only

I think that having a woman president would be a bad idea for our country. Women are not meant to rule countries and be in charge. They are meant to make decisions but not confirm them.

Our president deals with some countries that don’t respect or allow women in leadership positions. I wonder if the United States would have more terrorist attacks because we would be seen as weak with a woman leader. I agree that women can do many things, but leave the ruling of the countries to the men.

BRITTANY BAYLES, 13, Kennewick

My immediate reaction was sadness. We live in a society where people are constantly saying that the feminist movement has done its job, that it’s unnecessary and outdated. This is proof positive that things still need to change. What experiences has Ms. Bayles had, what messages has she been given that she has come to this conclusion?

With the current election going on, I’d like to know your thoughts, Viola Voicers. Do you feel the same way as Brittany Bayles? Do you think it’s a common opinion? Which Presidential candidate would you vote for? And a bigger question: how do we get to the point where a person’s gender isn’t thought to affect the way that person can do her job?

-Ellie